Displaced residents in Himamaylan clashes get P16M in assistance

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A total of P16,095,227.59 worth of assistance were provided to thousands of residents in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, who were displaced due to series of clashes between the Army and the New People’s Army (NPA) last month.

Of the total amount, P11,810,747.59 came from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-6, and P4,284,480 came from the local government unit (LGU).

In a media interview at Acacia Hotel here yesterday, Atty. May Rago-Castillo, public information officer of DSWD-6, said that the amount benefitted 5,444 families composed of 26,272 individuals.

Castillo said that 5,326 families or 25,737 persons from Barangays Carabalan, Cabadiangan, and III-Poblacion in Himamaylan City were displaced, while 118 families or 535 persons were also affected in Barangay Biao, Binalbagan town.

The bulk of the affected residents reaching to 15,905 persons or 3,313 families was in Barangay Carabalan, where series of encounters occurred from Oct. 6 to 12.

Two soldiers and an alleged NPA high-ranking official were killed, while six other soldiers were wounded. In fact, the local government has declared a state of calamity due to the said armed conflict.

Based on the data from the DSWD-6, 2,136 family food packs worth P1,247,080; and 105 sleeping kits worth P133,350 were provided to the affected persons, while 105 hygiene kits worth P154,717.59; and 105 family kits worth P264,600 will be distributed.

After almost two weeks, the affected areas were already cleared by the Army, allowing residents to return to their respective houses.